Chaplains Commission Weekly Update
Sunday, December 2, 2007 at 8:29 pm
Choice Christian greetings!
The Christmas season is about giving! While we have received many wonderful gifts, particularly the gift of salvation, this season allows us to open our hearts to those “beyond the gates” who are in need. One of our colleagues at the Commission is Dr. Jimmy DuPree, the Administrator of our Care Ministries at the Seminary. He, his wife, and a handful of others recently fed 400 individuals in one of the most deprived areas of our city. Those who worked diligently to make this happen were worn out, but feeling good in their souls. That is the reality of giving. The same goes for our donors who made possible the recent shipments of 286 boxes of Little Debbie brownies to our deployed military chaplains to be distributed to their troops. Or, in the case of a Cleveland, Tennessee, 16-year-old, Kaylee Radzyminski, Tunes 4 the Troops, who has raised more than $1.5 million worth of CD music for our soldiers. Through this young lady, we were able to send hundreds of Gospel music CDs to our deployed chaplains for distribution during the holidays to their personnel. To me, that is what the Christmas season is all about…giving; sacrificial giving; giving until it hurts. I spoke today with one of our U.S. Army chaplains, who just returned from his second 15-month deployment to Iraq. Every time I mentioned the word “sacrifice,” he would remind me that, to him, it was no sacrifice to be given the privilege of taking the Gospel to our men and women in harm’s way. It is this spirit that makes chaplaincy one of the most exciting ministries in the Church today.
MILITARY CHAPLAINCY NEWS:
1. Army Chaplain (CPT) Charles Popov, Hawaii, just returned to home base from a successful deployment to Iraq. Through his ministry, many were won to the Lord, filled with the Spirit and given the privilege of water baptism. He reports that during this deployment, he conducted 19 memorial services for soldiers killed in action. Send notes of welcome home to Chuck and his wife, Billie Jo, at: Charles.j.popov@us.army.mil.
2. Army Chaplain (MAJ-P) Mickey Jett, just returned from a 15-month deployment to Iraq. He reported to home base at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and has begun the process of clearing base for his new assignment at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama. Like our other chaplains who have been deployed, Chaplain Jett had an outstanding ministry in Iraq. It was reported to us that he conducted one of the largest Gospel services in country. Send your notes of welcome home to Mickey and his wife, Nanette, at mickey.jett@us.army.mil.
3. Army Chaplain (LTC) Bryan Walker, Chief of Chaplains Office, Washington, D.C., was recently selected to be a Division Chaplain, beginning Summer, 2008. Very few Army chaplains have the privilege of such an important assignment. Chaplain Walker will become the Division Chaplain of the 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Georgia.
4. Army National Guard Chaplain (MAJ) Ray Alexander, Colorado Springs, Colorado, has been called permanently to Active Duty through the Army National Guard program. He has been assigned to Camp Parks, California; but, in order to cover his troops, will go to Fort Hunter Liggett, Monterey County, California until mid-March; then return to Camp Parks. Most of you know that the Alexanders have always had a love for military chaplaincy. Ray has also, since having left Active Duty, been an outstanding pastor at Minot, North Dakota; and Colorado Springs, Colorado. Our sincere congratulations go to the Alexanders, “God is good, all the time!”
5. Army Chaplain (CPT) Timothy Staggs, Fort Knox, Kentucky, reports: “I had the privilege of taking 120 of our soldiers to Grace Heartland Church for a Veterans Day celebration. The service honored Veterans and military members with a wonderful Gospel message. Twenty of my soldiers stood to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. The church provided lunch for our soldiers; and members treated them royally. Thank God for good churches!”
6. Army Chaplain (COL) Charles Howell, Walter Reed Medical Center, Washington, D.C., reports that he and his family are celebrating the arrival of a new grandson, Carleton Andrew Pye, IV, born November 19, 2007. Pictures sent to us reveal a healthy, beautiful boy…congratulations Chuck and Sharon!
INSTITUTIONAL CHAPLAINCY NEWS (International, hospital, prison, campus, industry, etc.):
1. Chaplain Aime Kalombo, Capetown, South Africa, writes: “My local police station has requested that I give them more chaplaincy time…a very positive move. Where I live is one of the highest rated cities for violent crime. Agencies within the city are anxious to have chaplaincy presence.”
2. Prison Chaplain Dr. Betty Standifer, Chattanooga, Tennessee, notes: “Each week, the women inmates in our institution bring powerful prayer requests. One example says, Pray that God will touch the heart of my baby’s daddy. We both need protection from him! This young woman has been in lockdown due to several attempts at suicide. She has suffered life-long abuse and depression. Now, she attends our Bible classes; and I believe she will finally give it all over to the Lord.”
3. Hospital Chaplain Richard Gilbert, Portland, Oregon, gives this testimony: “Recently, I was called to respond to a code green (security) at our pre-surgical unit. I found a young woman screaming, hitting herself, falling and trying to bite others. I had a distinct impression that she was under attack from Satan. I took the opportunity to pray for her; within minutes she calmed down and allowed us to take care of her needs. As a Pentecostal chaplain, I am so glad that we know we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to deal with situations such as this.”
4. Retired Navy Chaplain Jairo Moreno, Portland, Texas, is now employed as a pastoral care chaplain/clinical counselor with a regional drug and alcohol rehabilitation teen center. He deals with clients 13-17 years of age. He reports they have 106 boys and girls as residents at this therapeutic center.
5. Law Enforcement Chaplain William Howard, Saginaw, Michigan, was recently involved in ministering to the family of a well-publicized murder victim. Chaplain Howard notes: “I was asked to give the death notification to the mother of a 43-year-old woman. She, along with their 9-year-old son, was murdered by her husband. Over the course of several days, I was given the privilege of counseling with this grieving family. Due to complications, the body was not immediately released for burial. Eventually, we were able to have a memorial for this victim. I have also connected family members to grief support agencies. I thank God for His everlasting forgiveness, mercy and love.”
6. Long-term Law Enforcement Chaplain Richard Popard, Saginaw, Michigan, was also cited for his outstanding work following a shooting near a local high school. A 16-year-old remains in critical condition after a gunman opened fire in an area where there were hundreds of students at a football game. Chaplain Popard, a very popular Church of God Chaplain, was called upon to deal with traumatized students and family members, and to make sure that critical incident stress debriefing was made available to those affected by this shooting. We are fortunate to have chaplains who, following this and other critical incidents, give professional and spiritual insight and training; not just to individuals, but an entire community.
FINALLY:
The reports you receive each week from our chaplains through these Updates are only a sample of the fantastic ministry taking place around the world. We sometimes forget chaplaincy is not just an “American word.” It is about the chaplaincy training recently conducted in the country of Columbia; a country torn apart by drug trafficking and mafia-type operations. Within this spiritual war zone, you will find some of the largest and most productive Pentecostal churches anywhere in the world. Puerto Rican Chaplain Ismael Ponce Hernandez, and South American Chaplaincy Coordinator Dr. Erick Vasquez, completed a course for Columbian pastors and laypersons. Here, as in many other critical areas, chaplaincy becomes the means by which the Gospel is taken to corrupt governments, institutions torn apart by social and civil strife and areas almost too dangerous to have a traditional ministry. Whether in Columbia or Atlanta, Georgia, chaplaincy is the key to take the Gospel to areas where the traditional Church has given up hope. In a sense, it is the Church’s “second chance” to prove that God did, indeed, come to those who have the most need.
Sincerely,
Dr. Robert Crick
Director, Chaplains Commission
Director’s e-mail: cricksot@worldnet.att.net
Office e-mail: chapcm@bellsouth.net
Web Site/Page: www.cogchaplains.com
RDC/vja
Categories: Weekly Update
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